Daylesford Organic

I'm obsessed with the bakery in the movie It's Complicated. Everything about it. While daydreaming about opening up my bakery, I remembered reading about a chain of organic markets in England. These images are an absolute  feast for the eyes. Daylesford Organic is Britain’s poshest shop. They make shopping an orgasmic experience (ok maybe a slight exaggeration). Their motto is "organic is a way of life and a state of mind". I wonder if Nancy Meyers, writer and director of It's Complicated had Daylesford Organic in mind when she created the Village Bakery. Enjoy...

It's really not complicated

Everyone  by now has heard about the new movie; It's Complicated , written and directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. I was so excited about this release, more I think for it's interiors than the actual movie. BUT, I loved them both. Jane, played by Meryl Streep is the owner of a successful bakery and restaurant in Santa Barbara. The scenes where her gardens and bakery were shot took my breath away. When researching this ,I found out that most of the movie was shot not in Santa Barbara ,but in New York and Thousands Oaks, California.  The Village Bakery of my dreams is shot inside Picnic House in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.  The actual kitchen scenes were shot at a restaurant in Manhattan's Chelsea Market.  The movie was "inspired and spiritually set in Santa Barbara" noted Nancy Meyers .  However, due to economic considerations the other areas were selected for shooting.  My favorite garden scenes were shot in Thousand Oaks, the outside of the house was the actual Santa Barbara connection.  The  1920's adobe ranch served as home to several well know celebrities over the years, including W.C. Fields.  The interiors were all shot at Broadway Stages in Brooklyn.

Here is one of the only pictures I could find of the Village Bakery.

I love the thick slab of Carrera marble

Pictures from Traditional Home magazine show Jane's kitchen and her home. All of the elements in this space work so well together.  The black iron windows with the natural roman shades.  The carrera marble on the island.  The fabulous wooden dining table.  I really, really , really loved the refridgerater in the movie...It's a massive commercial fridge/freezer that is amazing.
Nancy Meyers has an incredible eye for detail.  Beth Rubino was the set designer know also from the interiors in the movie  "Something's Gotta Give" with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson.

Marthas' kitchen

A pile of tear sheets  have been sitting in a box on my desk for quite sometime.The inspiration for today's blog is Martha Stewart's kitchen in Bedford, New York ...which calls to me from time to time. I love the monochromatic color scheme, the islands on wheels and her abundant space for storage. In her adjoining servery space two dishwashers, warming drawers, ice makers and refridgerater drawers make entertaining easy...well, that is if your Martha.

Christine Lane Interiors

Christine Lane is one of my favorite  designers. "Calm, well edited and comfortable are the signature characteristics of spaces designed by Christine Lane."  This family friendly home in Wellesley,Massachusetts  says it all.

eric roth photography

Matthew Mead Style

Mathew Mead is an amazingly talented person.  I love when you actually know the person your blogging about.  Matthew is a friend, he's a husband, a father, an amazing author(4 or 5 books), he's a producer ,a stylist and someone to watch.  His website is an absolute feast for the eyes. When so many magazines are closing shop , Matthew Mead style brings an alternative that actually works.  I love his style; simple, beautiful, creative and affordable.  http://www.matthewmeadstyle.com/

Santa Baby... I'd like this kitchen, please.

Santa, I've been a very good girl this year , and if possible I'd like this kitchen. Situated in Greenwich Connecticut, it is one of my most favorites . The images are from house beautiful's 2008 Kitchen of the Year. Every inch of this space was so well thought out. I love the 14 foot long island with a 2 1/2" thick slab of carrara marble. The steel windows and doors look incredible. The homewowner talks about this being a "gathering place for the social life of the family". Sliding glass doors open from the kitchen into a study area for the kids so Mom can keep an eye on homework while she cooks. If I could do my kitchen over this is what I'd do. I'd eliminate my formal living room and formal dining room and have this massive space where everyone hangs out. I think if I had this kitchen, I wouldn't even mind cooking???

Mamma Mia J.K. Place, Capri

As I sit at my computer looking out at a foot of snow, with several more inches expected, I've decided to go back to my daydreaming; before shoveling... I've made a slight change of plans for my imagined vacation. I've decided to start at J.K. Place in Capri and then head over to J.K. Place in Florence. When you look at these images, you'll understand why. The location is breath taking, situated on the island of Capri. J.K. Place has many similarities to their sister hotel in Florence but there are several differences. They both maintain their harmony of opposites and simple elegance. I love their use of the ever-so dark floors with incredible moldings and wainscotings. The Capri site takes more chances with color; their use of mustard and blue brings the hotel to life. White leather looking chairs, possibly made of naugahyde, for easy clean up create a stunning balance against the dark floors. Their black and white photos in grid like patterns adds a gallery flair. Modern accessories and furnishing next to an antiques or vintage finds works so well. Join me, won’t you… for our imaginary trip to J.K. Place in Capri and Florence.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   
 

http://www.jkplacecapri.com/

You know you're in trouble when your underwear is tight!!!!

OK, I can't blame it all on these delicious little cookies. BUT they have been part of my holiday season weight gain. That and the wine and the chinese food and the homemade fudge and the cheese and crackers...OK , I digress...This is after all supposed to be a design blog ,but from time to time I'd like to share with you some things not necessarily associated with design..Like these cookies from Paula Deen.  She calls them "Outrageous cookies" and I call them deadly..they are SO easy to make and  likely to please the masses.  Here's the recipe from the food network.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time: 8 min Inactive Prep Time: -- Cook Time: 10 min Level:

Easy Serves:

20 cookies Ingredients

18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough, sliced 1/4-inch thin

14-ounce package chocolate mint wafers

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, or enough to cover top of cookies

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.



Slightly grease a cookie sheet. Place slices of sugar cookies on sheet, about 2 to 3 inches apart. Top each with a chocolate wafer. Cover wafer with another slice of cookie dough. Brush dough with a beaten egg. Press nuts into top of dough. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Silpat , parment or cookie spray work well.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Paula used thin mint Girl Scout cookies. I couldn't find them at the grocery store so I subsituted Keebler's thin mints...they work just as well.  Paula also says that you can use a bite sized candy bar instead of the mint cookie.
 
 
 
 
 
      
 

 

 

Here they are ready to go into the oven. Egg washed and chopped pecans pressed on top

YUMMO!!!!!

Warning: these are addictive little cookies and I guarantee if you make them...your underwear will be tight too....

J.K.

All this talk of snow and shoveling got me dreaming of vacations and where I'd stay when I got there.The first place that came to mind was Florence, Italy. I want to share with you some images of J.K. place . I’ve never stayed there , although I have it on my list of places to go and stay, before I die. The interiors excite me. They manage to create a harmony of opposites that works so well. I love their mix of old and new, black and white, shiny and matte, silver and gold... Their webpage is a go-to site for inspiration for me. I hope it will be for you too….http://www.jkplace.com/

I love the dark stained floors and the white wing chairs.  The black shiny frames stand out against the cool gray walls.The  stainless steel lights add a modern flair.   White orchids and white flowers create warmth in this space. Large simple framed black and white art work stand out against the walls. (check out west elm for reasonably priced frames).

Here are a few really affordable alternatives to create the feel of this space.  All from ballard designs www.ballard designs.com